Hanger construction

ABSTRACT

A hanger construction is provided for removably mounting various articles such as cups, pails, and various tools on a supporting surface. The construction includes a channel member secured to the supporting surface, and a hanger element carried by said channel member and adjustable longitudinally thereof to selected positions. The hanger element is provided with a head portion and a manually adjustable member, the latter being adapted, when in one position of adjustment, to resiliently sandwich portions of the channel member between said head portion and resilient member and retain said hanger element in a selected position.

United States Patent Smith 1 May 23, 1972 54] HANGER CONSTRUCTION3,175,243 3/1965 Weber ..211/94 x 3,342,344 9/1967 Magnuson......211/113 [721 Invent 325 Nmh Hghway 3,190,599 6/1965 Margulis..24s/2o5 A 59, Barrmgton, 111. 60010 [22] Filed; Oct 2 0 PrimaryExaminerNile C. Byers, Jr.

Appl. No.2 83,291

Attorney-Pendleton, Neuman, Williams & Anderson ABSTRACT A hangerconstruction is provided for removably mounting various articles such ascups, pails, and various tools on a supporting surface. The constructionincludes a channel member secured to the supporting surface, and ahanger element carried by said channel member and adjustablelongitudinally thereof to selected positions. The hanger element isprovided with a head portion and a manually adjustable member, thelatter being adapted, when in one position of adjustment, to resilientlysandwich portions of the channel member between said head portion andresilient member and retain said hanger element in a selected position.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures HANGER CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Oftentimes, it is desirable for utilitarian or decorativereasons to suspend various articles, such as cups, mugs, pots, pans, orvarious garden and carpenter tools from either a vertical or horizontalsurface. Various devices to facilitate such suspension have heretoforebeen provided; however, because of various structural characteristics,they are beset with one or more of the following shortcomings: a) thedevice must be nailed or screwed into the supporting surface therebydefacing same; b) the device, once in place, cannot be readily adjustedto accommodate various types of articles or to relocate the articles onthe supporting channel member; c) special tools are required to mountthe device on a supporting surface; d) the device is bulky, awkward tohandle, and unattractive in appearance; and/or e) the device is offlimsy construction and is restricted to supporting only very lightweight articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of this invention toprovide a hanger construction which avoids the aforenoted shortcomingsof the prior devices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hangerconstruction which has great versatility and may be installed for eitherindoor or outdoor use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hangerconstruction which is of compact, sturdy construction, and is capable ofwithstanding abusive handling.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawing, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an improved hangerconstruction is provided which comprises an elongated channel memberhaving the outer distal edge portions thereof transversely offset toform supporting flanges, the latter delimiting an elongated narrowopening therebetween. The channel member has an elongated centralsection which is secured by a suitable adhesive to either a vertical orhorizontal supporting surface. One or more hanger elements are carriedby the channel member and are adjustable relative thereto topredetermined selected positions. Each hanger element includes a headportion disposed between the channel member leg sections and in contactwith the concealed surface of said supporting flanges. A shank extendsfrom the head portion through the elongated narrow opening delimited bythe flanges. A resilient member is carried by the shank and is adaptedto be manually adjusted into resilient frictional engagement with theexposed surface of said supporting flanges thereby retaining the hangerelement in a selected position of adjustment with respect to the channelmember.

DESCRIPTION For a more complete understanding of the invention referenceshould be made to the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective end view partially in verticalsection of one form of the improved hanger construction.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken respectively along lines 2--2and 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1, but showingthe hanger construction secured to a horizontal supporting surface.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively, top and front views of the resilientmember forming a part of the hanger construction of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second form of hangerelement.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 4, but showing the hanger element of FIG. 7 inposition for relative adjustment with respect to the channel member.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, but showing the resilient member inposition of frictionally engaging the channel member and retaining thehanger element in a selected position of adjustment with respect to thechannel member.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, animproved hanger construction 10 is shown which includes a channel member11 and a plurality of hanger elements 12 adjustably mounted thereon. Thenumber and relative locations of the hanger elements may be varied asdesired.

The channel member 11 may be formed of metal or extruded plastic and mayvary in length depending upon the size of the supporting surface 13, seeFIG. 4, to which it is secured.

The channel member 11 includes an elongated central section 11a, and apair of elongated leg sections 11b projecting therefrom. The outerdistal edge portions of the leg sections are transversely offset towardsone another so as to form supporting flanges 110. The flanges arepreferably substantially parallel to the central section and delimit anelongated narrow opening 1 1d.

The outer or exposed surface of central section is coated with asuitable adhesive 14 which is adapted to effectively bond the channelmember to the supporting surface. Prior to the channel member 11 beingsecured to the surface 13, the adhesive coating 14 may be covered overby a suitable strip 14' which may be readily peeled off manually, whendesired, so as to expose the adhesive coating.

Each hanger element 12 is provided with an enlarged head portion 12a,and a shank 12b projecting therefrom and extending through the narrowopening 11d formed in the channel member. Preferably, the shape and sizeof the head portion 120 is such that it spans the distance between theleg sections 11b and, therefore, is impassable with respect to theopening 11d. The dimension of the head portion relative to leg sections1 lb is such that the element may be manually moved longitudinally ofthe channel member. To assemble or disassemble the channel member andhanger element, it is necessary that the hanger element be slippedendwise on or off of the channel member. The head portion, as shown, hasa rectangular configuration and, therefore, once it has been assembledwith the channel member, the hanger element will not twist relative tothe channel member. It should be understood, of course, that theconfiguration of the head portion may be varied from that shown withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

The shank and head portion of the hanger element are preferably of onepiece construction and may be made of plastic, metal or the like. Insome instances, not shown, the segment of the shank disposed within thenarrow opening 1 1d of the channel member 11 may have a rectangularcross-sectional configuration with two sides thereof approximatelyspanning the width of the opening. In such a situation, twisting of theelement is prevented even though the head portion has an annularperipheral shape.

Adjustably mounted on the shank 12b and disposed beneath head portion120 is a resilient member 15, see FIGS. 5 and 6. The member 15 may beformed of rubber or rubberlike material and is provided with a centralopening 15a, the diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter ofthe shank 12b; however, the opening is stretchable thereby allowing theend of the shank to pass therethrough upon manual force being exerted onthe member. Once the shank has been inserted through the opening of themember, the latter will be moved upwardly relative to the shank until itfrictionally engages the exposed surface of the channel member flanges 11c. Thus, the flanges are resiliently sandwiched between the headportion 12a and the resilient member 15. The peripheral shape of member15 may vary as desired; however, it should be impassable with respect tothe opening 11d when it is mounted on the shank. Thus, when the member15 is in frictional engagement with the flanges 11c, the hanger elementwill be retained in a fixed longitudinal position on the channel member.

FIGS. 7-9 show a modified form 112 of hanger element wherein theresilient member 115 is made an integral part of the shank 112b. Themember 115 has a dished configuration and is flexible so that it can bemanually adjusted to present either a convex (FIG. 8) or concave (FIG.9) surface with respect to the exposed surface of the channel memberflanges 1 1c. The point of connection at between the center of member115 and the shank 112b, is spaced axially from the underside of the headportion 112a, a distance which is greater than the thickness of thechannel member flanges 11c, see FIG. 8. However, the axial distance issuch that, when the member 115 is flexed upwardly so as to present aconcave surface (see FIG. 9) to the flanges, the outer peripheral edge115b will resiliently and frictionally engage the exposed surface of theflanges and thus, retain the hanger element 112 in a selectedlongitudinally adjusted position with respect to the channel member.

The hanger element 112 may be molded of plastic or the like and thethickness of the resilient member made sufficiently thin so that it willbe possessed of the desired flexibility to permit manual flexingthereof. If desired, a small tab, not shown, may be formed on theunderside of the member 115 so as to facilitate flexing thereof from theconcave to the convex positions.

Thus, with either illustrated embodiment, the hanger element may bereadily moved to its desired longitudinal position on the channel memberand then be retained in such position by a simple manual adjustment ofthe resilient member. No tools or special dexterity are required of theinstaller to mount the channel member on the supporting surface 13and/or to position the hanger elements on the channel member.

The distal or outer end of the shank of the hanger element may takevarious shapes other than that shown in the drawing and will depend uponthe use to which the hanger construction is to be put. Furthermore, thechannel member may be mounted on a vertical supporting surface, ifdesired, in which case the opening lld will extend in a horizontaldirection. Various adhesives having high bonding characteristics areavailable on the market for use in mounting the channel member on thesupporting surface. Such adhesives, however, should not be deleteriouslyaffected by temperature and/or humidity variations.

Thus, it will be seen that a simple, sturdy, and inexpensive hangerconstruction has been provided which does not require tools for mountingand does not deface the surface on which it is mounted. The hangerconstruction has great versatility and is adapted to accommodate a widevariety of articles.

I claim:

1. A hanger construction comprising an elongated channel member having apair of spaced leg sections projecting from a central section, said legsections being provided with transversely extending flanges forming anelongated narrow opening therebetween; means for securing the centralsection of said channel member to a supporting surface; and a hangerelement carried by said channel member and adjustable longitudinallythereof to selected positions; said hanger element including a headportion disposed between said leg sections and slidably engaging theinner surface of said leg sections and the inner surface of saidflanges, a shank portion extending transversely from said head portionand extending through said narrow opening, said head and shank portionsbeing of unitary construction, and a resilient member carried by saidshank portion and movable relative to said flanges into resilientfrictional engagement with the outer surface of said flanges to effectretention of said hanger element in a selected position of longitudinaladjustment with respect to said channel member.

2. The hanger construction of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of saidchannel member central section is provided with an adhesive coating forafiixing said channel member to a supporting surface, and a removablestrip overlying said coated surface.

3. The hanger construction of claim 1 wherein said resilient membercomprises a piece which resiliently encompasses and is movablelongitudinally of said shank towards and away from said head portion,said piece, when in one position of manual adjustment, resilientlyengaging the outer surface of said channel member flanges andsandwiching said flanges between said head Fgrtion and said piece. I

4. e hanger construction of claim 1 wherein said hanger element is onlyremovable endwise of said channel member when said member is not inresilient frictional engagement with said channel member flanges.

5. The hanger construction of claim 1 wherein said shank and saidresilient member are of unitary construction and the surface of theresilient member adjacent said channel member flanges being manuallyadjustable to assume either a concave, flange-engaging configurationwherein said hanger element and channel member are in substantiallyfixed relation, or a convex, non-flange engaging configuration whereinsaid hanger element is manually movable longitudinally of said channelmember,

6. The hanger construction of claim 5 wherein the head portion is shapedso as to substantially span the distance between the channel member legsections, and the segment of the shank adjacent said head portion isshaped so as to substantially span the distance between the flanges ofsaid channel member.

7. The hanger construction of claim 2 wherein said channel member is aplastic extrusion; said hanger element is of one piece plasticconstruction; and said resilient member is a washer of rubberlikematerial.

1. A hanger construction comprising an elongated channel member having apair of spaced leg sections projecting from a central section, said legsections being provided with transversely extending flanges forming anelongated narrow opening therebetwEen; means for securing the centralsection of said channel member to a supporting surface; and a hangerelement carried by said channel member and adjustable longitudinallythereof to selected positions; said hanger element including a headportion disposed between said leg sections and slidably engaging theinner surface of said leg sections and the inner surface of saidflanges, a shank portion extending transversely from said head portionand extending through said narrow opening, said head and shank portionsbeing of unitary construction, and a resilient member carried by saidshank portion and movable relative to said flanges into resilientfrictional engagement with the outer surface of said flanges to effectretention of said hanger element in a selected position of longitudinaladjustment with respect to said channel member.
 2. The hangerconstruction of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said channel membercentral section is provided with an adhesive coating for affixing saidchannel member to a supporting surface, and a removable strip overlyingsaid coated surface.
 3. The hanger construction of claim 1 wherein saidresilient member comprises a piece which resiliently encompasses and ismovable longitudinally of said shank towards and away from said headportion, said piece, when in one position of manual adjustment,resiliently engaging the outer surface of said channel member flangesand sandwiching said flanges between said head portion and said piece.4. The hanger construction of claim 1 wherein said hanger element isonly removable endwise of said channel member when said member is not inresilient frictional engagement with said channel member flanges.
 5. Thehanger construction of claim 1 wherein said shank and said resilientmember are of unitary construction and the surface of the resilientmember adjacent said channel member flanges being manually adjustable toassume either a concave, flange-engaging configuration wherein saidhanger element and channel member are in substantially fixed relation,or a convex, non-flange engaging configuration wherein said hangerelement is manually movable longitudinally of said channel member. 6.The hanger construction of claim 5 wherein the head portion is shaped soas to substantially span the distance between the channel member legsections, and the segment of the shank adjacent said head portion isshaped so as to substantially span the distance between the flanges ofsaid channel member.
 7. The hanger construction of claim 2 wherein saidchannel member is a plastic extrusion; said hanger element is of onepiece plastic construction; and said resilient member is a washer ofrubberlike material.